Tampa – His current beliefs from his former clubhouse are consistent. Player and character Paul Goldschmidt will help the Yankees.
The spring matchup with the Cardinals provided a reunion-style atmosphere with the baseman of the new Yankees who had six almost amazing seasons in St. Louis.
He did not return to the seventh season as his contract expired and the Cardinals announced a rebuild.
There he fell for the Yankees on a $12.5 million contract for a year, bringing potential Hall of Fame pedigrees and concerns about how much he could still offer his team.
The answer is a lot, according to a few people who know Goldschmidt well.
“He's going to have a big year,” said longtime teammate and friend Nolan Arenado. “I wouldn't be surprised if he went outside and played really well.”
Last season, Goldschmidt appeared to have been washed out in the first half, which ended with a .664 OPS.
He bouncing off in a strong second half (.799 OPS) and encouraged the Yankees to add him to their post-Juan Soto Splage.
Goldschmidt's solid gloves initially contribute, but his former manager believes there is much more to his bat.
“When someone is in that age range, there's always an idea: 'Man, they don't have much left in the tank,'” Oliver Malmol said before the 7-0 Yankees win at Steinbrenner Field. “I don't think it fits Goldie at all. I'm the one who cares for his body more than anyone else around me. But he feels good and when he's not, he's very mechanically harmonious.”
Goldschmidt didn't feel mechanically healthy early last year, Marmol said, and he found a fix over the final months of the season. He believes the problem was not Goldschmidt's age, but his swing.
Another potential problem: Bush Stadium.
“I think at Bush he's going to hit a lot of balls in the middle of the right. [that were] “I've got a lot of money,” said Arenado. “I think at Yankee Stadium he'll be rewarded for that.”
Throughout this season, it is clear whether Goldschmidt still has the same type of ability that made him the NL MVP in 2022.
His impact on the Yankees clubhouse, which is not specific.
Arenado said Goldschmidt was “completely fit” with the Yankees as the leader.
Marmol recalled the early signs of the type of individual he was dealing with.
When Marmol was the Cardinals bench coach in 2019, he and his wife were caring for their newborn and two-year-old daughter.
Marmol was about to spend plenty of time on the road at the start of spring training.
“One day, I'm going into the clubhouse,” Marmol said. [Goldschmidt] “Hey, it's already paid, and I'm already taking care of it. …The following month, every night nurse comes to your house. Your wife doesn't have to worry about anything.”
“These are the types that have a level of consciousness that he is. He'll always do that.”
Goldschmidt's RBI singles Wednesday was one of the positive signs for the Yankees. Aaron Boone said he was already seeing positive signs outside the box.
“I think he's valued our room. I already feel very strong,” said the Yankees manager. “He brings a level of professionalism. He was there, he was playing games, in-game games. Those were always his calling cards.
“He has that reputation.”
